India becomes top source of vehicle imports for South Africa's auto sector
India has become the South African automotive industry's top country of origin for vehicle imports since 2013, the Automotive Business Council says in its BRICS+ Research Report 2024.
This was because India has been established by various brands as the global hub for small and entry-level vehicles which comprise the bulk of sales in the domestic market, the report said.
Tata and Mahindra have firmly established their automotive products in South Africa. Mahindra executives have even repeatedly reaffirmed that South Africa is their second home outside India because of major investments, including a production line in Durban.
China and India have consistently featured as two of the South African automotive industry's top 10 trading partners since 2010, mainly due to the increasing level of automotive imports.
More recent entrant China has consolidated its position as the second largest country of origin for vehicle imports since 2022 as financially strapped consumers gravitated towar